Cigar accessory tray

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a cigar accessory tray that comprises a candle, a candle holder, a plurality of wooden sticks, a wooden stick holder, and a cutting tool. In some embodiments, the cigar accessory tray further comprises an ashtray with which the cigar accessory tray may nest.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to provisional patent application No.60/921,364, filed 2 Apr. 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mechanical prior art methods including butane lighters exhibiting botherratic and unreliable lighting performance. Such prior art methods areknown to run out of fuel without visible warning and certain fuels,including butane, are not easily available or easily transported intoday's security conscious age. Moreover, those prior art methods havehigh failure rate due to clogging, for example, they are known tofrequently clog due to pocket lint in gas exit aperature or the piezowearing out and failing to spark.

Prior art methods include butane lighters and sulfur based matches.Butane lighters introduce butane combustion products including methane,ethane, propane, and cyclopropane in sufficient quantities to introduceimpurities into the cigar. Sulfur based matches release sulfur oxidizederivatives which are toxic; they further react with ambient humidity toacidify to impurities such as hydrosulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, andsulfuric acid. Both butane and sulfur derived impurities reside in thecigar for sufficient time to degrade the taste of the cigar even afterthe flame source is removed. The aromatic wood strips of the presentinvention allow a cigar to be light without the introduction of butaneof sulfur derived impurities into the cigar.

Sulfur tipped matches not only introduce noxious fumes into the cigar,but are made from softwoods which burn quickly. Furthermore, matches donot burn for sufficient time to light a cigar with a single match; often3-6 matches are required. The use of multiple matches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts top & side views of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of an embodiment of the invention including acandle, and a plurality of aromatic wooden sticks.

FIG. 3 depicts a view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict a top view of an embodiment of the inventionincluding specific measurements of a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts top & side views of an embodiment of the inventionincluding specific measurements of a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a top view of an embodiment of the invention where thecigar tray, which comprises detents for a candle holder, wooden stickholder and matchbox holder, is capable of nesting with an ashtray.

FIG. 7 depicts a top view of an embodiment of the invention where thecigar tray, which comprises a detent for a matchbox holder, is capableof nesting with an ashtray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device comprising a cigar tray (1), acandle (2), and a plurality of aromatic wooden sticks (4).

The cigar tray is a portable apparatus having means for carrying acandle (2) and a plurality of aromatic wooden sticks (4). In someembodiments, the cigar tray is substantially elliptical or rectangularin shape. In some embodiments, the top surface of the cigar tray isabout 30 square inches to about 120 square inches. In some embodiments,the top surface of the cigar tray is about 40 square inches to about 80square inches. In some embodiments, the top surface of the cigar tray isabout 60 square inches. In some embodiments, the cigar tray furthercomprises a means for carrying a candle and a plurality of aromaticwooden sticks, such as depressions (5) in the cigar tray suitable forholding a candle holder (5) and a wooden stick holder (3). In someembodiments, the cigar tray further comprises a depression suitable forholding a book of matches (7) which can be used to light the candle orfor advertising. Such depressions are about 1/16 inches to about ¼inches deep, or more preferably, about ⅛ inch deep. In some embodimentsthe candle holder (3) and the wooden stick holder (4) are integrated orpermanently affixed to the tray. In some embodiments the candle holderand the wooden stick holder are independent and detachable from thetray.

In some embodiments, the cigar tray further comprises from 1 to 4grooves (5) on the edge of the tray, each groove suitable forpresentation, thus preventing a cigar from rolling off the tray. In someembodiments, the grooves are each about ½ inch deep and correspond tothe circumference of a circle having about up to 1 inch diameter.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a slow-burning woodenstick (4), for example a cedar stick, is provided that can be used tolight a cigar. This represents an advance in the art by coupling adependable flame source (a candle) with a natural combustion material(wooden sticks).

The candle (2) of the present invention provides a reliable flame sourcewhich can be used to light a wooden stick (4). Additionally, as theheight of the candle or the amount of oil remaining (an easily monitoredvariable) determines the duration of flame available, the duration offlame available from the candle is more reliable than mechanicaldevices. In some embodiments a 2 hour candle is employed. In someembodiments a 5 hour candle is employed. In some embodiments a 10 hourcandle is employed.

In some embodiments, the wooden stick (4) is made of an aromatic wood.Preferably, the wooden sticks are made from an aromatic wood that doesnot introduce foul smelling combustion materials into the cigar. In someembodiments, the wooden stick is cedar. When lit, a cedar stick acts asa long, slow-burning, aromatic match. The burn rate of the wooden stickis in part due to the angle that the stick is held. If the flame is heldlower than the majority of the wooden stick, the burn rate willincrease. In some embodiments, the wooden stick is of sufficient lengthto burn for about 30 seconds to about 90 seconds when held horizontally.In some embodiments, the wooden stick is of sufficient length to burnfor about 60 seconds when held horizontally. In some embodiments, thewooden stick is about 2 inches to about 8 inches long. In someembodiments, the wooden stick is about 4 inches to about 7 inches long.In some embodiments, the wooden stick is about 6 inches long. Somewooden sticks of the present invention are hardwood wooden sticks thatburn slowly relative to softwood matchsticks.

Some embodiments of the present invention further comprise a cuttingtool (6) suitable for cutting the end of a cigar so that smoke can bedrawn through the resulting hole. In some embodiments the cutting toolis a pair of scissors, for example surgical grade stainless steelscissors. In some embodiments the cutting tool is a bullet cigar cutter.In some embodiments the cutting tool is a guillotine cigar cutter.

In some embodiments the cutting tool is flexibly attached to the cigartray. As used in the present application “flexibly attached” inreference to any 2 items means that the items are attached by any mannerallowing spatial separation of the 2 items while the 2 items remaintethered together by a flexible means; examples include a fabric cordand a metal chain having a diameter of less than about ½ inches, orpreferably, less than about ¼ inches. In some embodiments, the length ofthe fabric cord or metal chain is about 3 inches, about 6 inches, about9 inches, about 12 inches, about 15 inches, about 18 inches, about 21inches, about 24 inches, about 27 or about 30 inches. In someembodiments, the cigar tray further comprises a cutting tool flexiblyattached to the cigar tray by a metal chain. Preferably, the cuttingtool is flexibly attached to the tray near the candle holder; thisplacement allows for use of the cutting tool without the flexibleattachment becoming tangled with the wooden stick.

In some embodiments the cigar tray further comprises a cutting toolretainer capable of temporarily stabilizing the cutting tool on thecigar tray such that, for example, the cigar tray could be carriedupright without the cutting tool becoming unsecured or falling from thecigar tray. In some embodiments, the cutting tool retainer is aprotrusion slightly smaller than the inside diameter or profile of afinger hole in the cutting tool. In some embodiments the cutting tool isa pair of scissors comprising a first and second generally flat rigid,blade portion each sharpened on one edge to provide two cutting edges,wherein the blade portions are pivotally connected to one another andeach blade portion includes a handle portion on one end, and wherein thefirst handle portion is adapted to fit the thumb of the user while thesecond handle portion adapted to fit one or more fingers of the samehand in the normal fashion of scissors use. In some embodiments theprotrusion is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the firsthandle portion. In some embodiments the protrusion is slightly smallerthan the inside diameter of the second handle portion. In someembodiments the circumference of the protrusion is about 0.25 inches,about 0.5 inches, about 0.75 inches, about 1 inch, about 1.5 inches, orabout 2 inches. In some embodiments the cutting tool is temporarilystabilized on the cigar tray with a hole in the cigar tray slightlylarger than the circumference of the combined circumference of the firstand second blade portions when closed together. In some embodiments, thecircumference of the hole is about 0.25 inches, about 0.33 inches, about0.5 inches, about 0.66 inches, about 0.75 inches, about 1 inch, about1.5 inches, about 2 inches, or about inches. In some embodiments, thecutting tool retainer is a magnet. In some embodiments, the magnet isembedded. In some embodiments, the magnet is attached to the undersideof the cigar tray in sufficient proximity to retain the scissors. Insome embodiments, the cutting tool retainer comprises two generallylinear arms pivotally attached to each other where the pivotalattachment is biased to close one end of each linear arm together; forexample, a spring biased clip.

Some embodiments of the present invention further comprise a detachablebase. In some embodiments, the detachable base is an ashtray. In someembodiments, the detachable base may be temporarily fixed to the cigartray, for example by a spring loaded detent.

In some embodiments, the detachable base may be temporarily fixed to thecigar tray, for example by both the detachable base and the cigar traybeing of compatible size so that they nest together, for example, wherethe cigar tray and the detachable base are substantially concentriccircles or ellipses where the circumference of the cigar tray is ⅛ of aninch larger than the circumference of the detachable base.

1. A smoking accessory device comprising a cigar tray, a candle, and aplurality of aromatic wooden sticks.
 2. The device of claim 1 whereinthe cigar tray comprises a candle holder for said candle and a woodenstick holder for said wooden sticks.
 3. The device of claim 1 whereinthe wooden sticks are about 4 inches to about 7 inches long.
 4. Thedevice of claim 3 wherein the wooden sticks are cedar.
 5. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising a cutting tool flexibly attached to saidtray.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the cutting tool is selected fromthe group consisting of scissors, bullet cutters and guillotine cutters.7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a detachable base.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7 wherein the detachable base is an ashtray.
 9. Thedevice of claim 1 further comprising from 1 to 4 grooves each, groovebeing about ½ inch deep and corresponding to the circumference of acircle having a 1 inch diameter.
 10. A method of lighting a cigarwithout introducing butane of sulfur derived impurities into the cigarcomprising the steps of: providing a flame source, providing a flammablematerial that does not produce noxious combustion products, lightingsaid flammable material with said flame source, lighting a cigar withsaid flammable material.
 11. The method of claim 18 wherein theflammable material that does not produce noxious combustion products isa wooden stick.
 12. The method of claim 19 wherein the wooden stick iscedar.
 13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a protrusion fortemporarily stabilizing the cutting tool on the cigar tray.
 14. Thedevice of claim 1 further comprising a hole for temporarily stabilizingthe cutting tool on the cigar tray.